Bachiler's Hundred
BACHILER'S HUNDRED
An Annotated Chronology for Reverend Stephen Bachiler (1561-1656) by Peter Hutchinson
This remarkable man's long life spanned the Puritan revolution in England and the early settlement of America, and he was engaged in and in confrontation with both. Early graduate of St. John's College, Oxford, he was Vicar of Wherwell until ousted for his freethinking. A sponsor of and minister to the London Plough Company ("the Company of Husbandmen") he immigrated to America in 1632, established churches in Saugus (now Lynn)and other towns; founded the town of Hampton; served as arbitrator in a land dispute involving the Provinces of Maine and Lygonia; and finally undertook a mission to sailors and fishermen in Strawberry Bank (now Portsmouth, N.H.) before returning to England. Throughout his ministry in two countries he was at odds with ecclesiastical and hence governmental authority, an adamant and unyielding proponent of separation of church and state.
The following is an attempt to interlate his life events with those of his era. There are missing pieces to his documented biography, and readers with additions or corrections are invited to bring them to my attention. In particular, we are looking for examples of his sermons; his works were purposefully ignored by the Puritan theocracy of Massachusetts Bay Colony, and his library (and presumably personal records and writings)were lost in the burning of his house in Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1641.
1561 Stephen Bachiler is born in England, probably Hants.
Sir Francis Bacon born.
1564 Father Philip Bachiler (b. 1510) dies.
Mother Ann (b. 1519) dies.
Stephen Bachiler may have been assisted through childhood and provided an education by the de la Warre family.
1581 Nov. 17, matriculates at St. Johns College, Oxford.
1585 Roanoke Colony in Virginia
1586 Feb. 3, SB takes his degree as Bachelor of Arts.
1587 July 15/17, appointed vicar of Wherwell, Hants, by Lord de la Ware; Church of Holy Cross and St. Peter.1587
1588 Married Ann Bate (1551-1603). She was probably sister of Rev. John Bate, who succeeded Rev. Stephen as vicar of Wherwell.
Spanish Armada.
John Winthrop born.
Thomas Hobbes born.
1589
1590 Son Nathaniel born.
1591
1592 Daughter Deborah born.
1593
1594 Son Stephen born.
1595
1596 Son Samuel born.
1597
1598 Daughter Theodate born.
1599
1600 Daughter Anne born.
1601
1602
1603 Wife Ann dies.
1604 King James' edict to expel nonconformists to Church of England.
1605 Accused of "lewd speeches tending seditiously to the derogation of her Majesties government" and made to appear before the Archbishop of Canterbury in proceedings before the Star Chamber.
Aug., replaced (ejected) as vicar of Wherwell, succeeded by his brother-in-law John Bate as vicar 1605-1633. Stephen Bachiler was transferred to Newton Stacey.
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610 June, Stephen Bachiler, "son of a clergyman of Hampshire" admitted at Magdalen College, Oxford.
1611 [At some point during the following decade, may have taken refuge in Holland, since he later had sons and daughters there.]
1612
1613
1614
1615 Feb. 19, Stephen Bachiler (son of Rev. Stephen?) Witnesses will of a Edmund Alleyn of Hatfield Peverell, Essex.
1616
1617
1618
1619 Daughter Ann married John Sanborne [Samborn, Sanborn].
1620 Son? Samuel b. 1596, a chaplain in Holland.
1621 June 11, Adam Winthrop at Groton in Suffolk, "had Mr. Bachelour, the preacher" to dine with him.
1622 Settled in Newton Stacy near Wherwell, and bought land there.
1623
1624 March 2, Married Christiana Weare
1625
1626
1627 Mar. 26, Married Helena Mason (1559-1642)
1628
1629 "Company of Husbandmen" or "Company of the Plough" formed in London.
1630 Joins "Company of Husbandmen" of "Plough Company", London, and is chosen as its pastor.
Grandson Nathaniel Bachiler [Batchelder] born to son Nathaniel Bachiler.
June 26, Plough Company receives patent to land between Sagadahoc and Cape Porpoise from Council for New England.
Baptized grandson Stephen Hussey, at Lynn.
1631 In London; permission granted him, wife Helen and widowed daughter Ann Sandborn [Sandburn, Samborne] to visit sons and daughters living in Flushing, Holland.
Resident at South Stoneham, Southampton.
Daughter Theodate and husband Christopher Hussey come to America.
Sold land at Newton Stacy.
March 8, Letter from London Company noting Bachiler's contributions to its efforts.
23 June, resident at South Stoneham, Southampton; wife Helen, aged 48 years [born 1583?]; daughter Ann Sandburn [Sanborn?] age 30 [born 1601?].
1632 April 8, immigrates to America on William and Francis; arrives June 5; accompanied by a family of "six or seven" including his three eldest sons. [?]
(Probably his wife, grandchild Nathaniel, three Samborn [Sanborn] grandchildren, plus "several of his Hampshire adherents".)
June 8, forms church in Sagus [Saugus, now Lynn] Mass., where daughter Theodate, wife of Chistopher Hussey, resided. Baptized their child, his grandson, Stephen.
Oct. 3, General Court orders Bachiler to "forbear exercising his gifts as a pastor or teacher publicly in or patent, unless it be to those he brought with him, for his contempt of authority and til some scandles be removed."
Dec. 1, London Company letter on settlement of Company's affairs.
1633 June 6, Bachiler letter to Governor Winthrop petitioning for return of goods.
Grandson Benjamin Batchelder born, probable brother of Nathaniel, Jr.
Sept. 17, Conference of Ministers re: settlement of Mr. Cotton.
1634 Dec. 19, Conference of Ministers, re: conduct if a general governor sent out of England.
1635 March 15, meeting of "two of the elders of every church"at Saugus, re: supposed grievances against Bachiler's ministry.
Christmas, 1635: "a general fast was proclaimed, for that cause and others and presumably continued until February, 1636, when Bachiler left Lynn and went to Ipswich, where he received a grant of fifty acres of land and prospect of settlement, but from some reason, not yet explained, the plan miscarried. It was about this time, on the 17th of April, 1637, that Rev. R. Stansby writes Rev. John Wilson from England that he is grieved that "Others laye downe the ministry and become private members, as Mr. Bacheler, Mr. Jenner, and Mr. Nathan Ward, &c." He adds that this fact and others of like nature were now much talked about, and that many worthy people were prevented from emigrating to New England for these reasons, and suggests that greater liberty be granted in the admission of members to the church." *[Mass. Hist. Coll., Fourth Series, Vol. VII., 10, 11, 12.]
May 6, admitted as a freeman.
1636 February, leaves Saugus, moves to Ipswich and is granted fifty acres of land; is one of the founders of Sandwich, Massachusetts.
1637
1638 Moves to Newbury, Mass. Where granted land July 6.
Petitioned for and granted liberty to begin a plantation at Winnicunnet [N.H.]; settlement begun on October 16..
1639 Offered sixty acres of upland and twenty of meadow by Ipswich if he would reside as preacher; he declines in favor of Hampton.
June 7, Winnicunnet incorporated as town and named Hampton. Bachiler is pastor, and Rev. Timothy Dalton is appointed assistant, or teacher.
July 5, SB. and son-in-law Christopher Hussey sell their houses and land in Newbury; SB is granted 300 acres by Hampton as pastor.
October, writes wife of Governor John Winthrop, sending her a book.
[George Rogers is in employ of John Winter at Richmond Island.]
1640
1641 Union of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Bachiler's house in Hampton destroyed by fire.
[May 20- Thomas Gorges authorizes Robert Beedle use of a lot in Kittery between those of George Rogers and John Simons. Robert Beedle's wife is Mary...]
June 28, appointed "umpire" in arbitration of Saco Court dispute between George Cleeve and John Winter.
1642 Wife Helena dies.
July 31, Rev. Robert Jordan writes letter about Bachiler's role in the Cleeve/Winter arbitration.
1643 Bachiler writes to Governor Winthrop and Church at Boston, requesting hearing on his excommunication and other charges.
1644 Asked by George Cleeve to be pastor of Casco in the Province of Lygonia.
Bachiler sells farm at Hampton to William Howard and Thomas Ward.
Bachiler letter of 18/19 May, noting the call he has received to settle at Exeter.
May 22, Hampton committee re: SB's ministry and church dissension there.
May 29, General Court of Mass. orders deferral of any church at Exeter.
June 11, petition of Christopher Hussey on behalf of S.B.
July 15, Winthrop (ii, 177) writes of contention in Hampton.
Under date of July 15, 1644, Winthrop says, "The contentions in Hampton were grown to a great height, the whole town was divided into two factions, one with Mr. Batcheller, their late pastor, and the other with Mr. Dalton, their teacher, both men very passionate, and wanting discretion and moderation. Their differences; were not in matters of opinion, but of practise. Mr. Dalton's party being the most of the church, and so freemen, had great advantage of the other, though a considerable party, and some of them of the church also, whereby they carried all affairs both in church and town according to their own minds, and not with that respect to their brethren and neighbors which had been fit. Divers meetings had been both of magistrates and elders, and parties had been reconciled, but brake out presently again, each side being apt to take fire upon any provocation. Whereupon Mr. Batchellor was advised to remove. * * * And at this court there came petition against petition both from Hampton and Exeter: whereupon the court ordered two or three magistrates to be sent to Hampton with full power to hear and determine all differences there." *[Winthrop's N. E. ii. *177.]
Nov. 12, Massachusetts commissioners re: Bachiler vs. Hampton.
1645 May 14, denial of S.B. petition for payments from Hampton.
Son Nathaniel dies in England.
1646
1647 Bachiler brings suit into Salisbury Court, obtains judgement.
April 26, living in Strawberry Bank [Portsmouth]; conveyed remaining real estate at Hampton to grandson John Sanborn [Samborn?] who is to pay 20 Li each to B's other three grandchildren: Nathaniel Bachelder, Stephen Samborn, William Samborn.
SB takes in Mary Beedle as his housekeeper. She is the widow of Robert Beedle, a sailor granted a lot in Kittery, Maine.
June 27, Bachiler appointed overseer of will of James Woodward.
1648 Bachiler marriage to Mary [Biddle/Beedle], aged 40.
Feb. 14, Town of Kittery granted (deeded) a lot to "Mrs. Batcheller". At the same time, George Rogers' lot was confirmed.
1649 Bachiler residing in Kittery, Maine.
Oct. 20, daughter Theodate dies at Hampton, N.H.
1650 May, Bachiler fined 10 shillings for not publishing intentions of marriage to Mary. Oct., half of the fine remitted.
Oct, 15, Mary Batheller defendant at Gorgeana General Court, Stephen Grenham plaintiff, "in an action upon the case. This action put to arbitration." George Rogers and Mary Bachiler presented "upon vehement suspicion of incontinency for living in one house together and lying in one room."
[George Rogers is noted as being a "juryman"
1651
March 11, Mrs. Batcheller plaintiff against Clement Campion, defendant, in an "action upon the case" for damage to the value of 10 Ll sterling. The jury finds for her, awards 50 shillings damages.
March 18, among presentments at the Grand Inquest, Court at Gorgeana, "Mis Batcheller for Adultery. Mis Batcheller is to be whipped at the next town meeting and Mr. Norton is to be sent for."
Oct. 14, George Rogers and Mary Batcheller, ordered by the Court held at Kittery, to "not alienate any part of their estates to any person whatsoever, but shall be reserved for the children's maintenance, this to be published."
Oct. 16, George Rogers and Mary Bachiler sentenced for adultery; she to receive "40 strokes save one," six weeks "after her delivery", and to be branded with the Letter "A". Mary is pregnant [by George Rogers?]; Stephen and Mary Bachiler to live together.
1652 Oct. 14, Mary Batcheller presented at Agamenticus [York] Court "for entertaining idle people on the sabboth day."
Nov. 16, Mary Batcheller is a signatory (and the only woman) to the Kittery "submission" to the government of Massachusetts, probably because of her status as landholder there.
1653 "2nd of the first month" [March 2, old style?] Dorethia, daughter of Stephen Sanborn and wife Sarah born; presence indicative of Stephen Bachiler still in America.
1654 Bachiler returns to England.
(or)
1655
1656 Dec. 10, Grandson Nathaniel Batchelder marries Deborah Smith, daughter of John and Deborah (Parkhurst) Smith of Martha's Vineyard.
REV. STEPHEN BACHILER buried at Allhallows Staining, England.
1657 Oct. 12, great-granddaughter Deborah born to Nathaniel and Deborah (Smith).
1658
1659 Dec. 24, great-grandson Nathaniel, son of grandson Nathaniel, born in Hampton, N.H.
1660
1661 A Bachiler coat-of-arms is described in Morgan's Sphere of the Gentry as a plough with a rising sun. The ascribed motto is "Sol justiti exoritor", translated as "The sun rises over all equally."
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